Norse mythology refers to the mythology and religion of the Norse (also called Vikings) and Germanic peoples, which existed before their conversion to Christianity. The myths are vibrant, intriguing and unique, showcasing the beliefs and ideals of the people who believed in them.
Norse mythology is full of interesting and complex figures, such as Odin, Loki, Thor, Freya and Frigg. It can be harsh and sordid, often even fatalistic, representing the worldview of the Norse people and the harsh environment they lived in.
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As Neil Gaiman so aptly puts it, “The Norse myths are the myths of a chilly place, with long, long winter nights and endless summer days, myths of a people who did not entirely trust or even like their gods, although they respected and feared them.”
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Our series on Norse mythology covers all the main characters, creatures and events, highlighting the importance of the stories and their symbolism and relevance today.
Norse mythology is full of fantastic creatures, many of which have been the basis of beings and myths in other religions as well as in much of the modern fantasy literature genre. Yet few Norse ...
Muspelheim, or just Muspell, is one of the core Nine Realms of Norse mythology. A place of ever-burning hellish fire and the home of the fire giant or fire jötunn Surtr, Muspelheim isn’t often ...
The cosmology of Nordic myths is fascinating and unique in many ways but also somewhat confusing at times. We’ve all heard about the nine Norse realms but going over what each of them is, how they ...
Ginnungagap is an elusive name, one that even fans of Norse mythology may not have heard of. Yet, it is one of the core concepts in all of Norse mythology as it is quite literally the vast void of ...
Asgard is the famous realm of the Æsir or Aesir gods in Norse mythology. Led by the Allfather Odin, the Asgardian gods live in Asgard in peace throughout most of Norse mythology with a few ...
The nine worlds of Norse mythology are full of bizarre mythical creatures such as giants, dwarves, elves, norns and the Kraken. While Norse mythology is predominantly about the Norse gods, these ...
The Valknut is a recognizable yet somewhat enigmatic symbol. This ancient Norse and Germanic sign goes so far back that archeologists and historians don’t even know its original name, as Valknut ...
The Vegvisir (pronounced VEGG-vee-seer) is an ancient Norse symbol that is believed to provide safety for those who are embarking on a long voyage. The Vegvisir is believed to have originated in ...
The Norse and the broader Scandinavian runes are as fascinating as they are confusing. Some of the more confusing runes are the hammer-shaped or reverse cross runes people wear even to this day. ...
The legendary Norse shieldmaiden Lagertha is one of the strongest and most prominent examples of historical warrior women. Yet, the question persists - was Lagertha a real person or just a myth? ...
Odin, the Allfather of Norse mythology, once impaled his own heart with the mighty Gungnir spear and hung from the World Tree Yggdrasil for nine days and nights to gain knowledge of the ancient ...
Ask and Embla are the first humans created by the gods, according to Norse mythology. As the legend goes, all people today are their descendants and humankind has ruled Midgard (Earth) from the ...
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